2021 Paanam Malbec Red Wine

The 2021 harvest was notable for a series of out of the ordinary weather events. The vines began their budbreak cycle very similarly to the previous year’s, with a perfectly dry, warm spring. But in October a late frost was recorded, and ended up affecting yields by an average of 20 – 30% depending on each grape variety. Luckily, this decrease in quantity did not translate into a decrease in quality. Then, in February and for part of March, we were hit with intense rains reaching 350mm, which necessitated increased preventative spraying and an additional leaf removal and green harvest to avoid potential botrytis issues in some tight grape clusters.

The vines were able to recover nicely though, enjoying sunny days with a wide temperature range between day and night through the entire second half of March and all of April, which allowed for high quality in most of the grape varieties.

The white varieties have very good acidity and lower alcohol, making this a year of fresh and elegant white wines. The reds had somewhat varying results but on the whole did very well. Varieties such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Mourvedre and Syrah suffered a little more because of the rain, but our careful response in the vineyard and the winery allowed them to nevertheless reach a good level of quality. Longer cycle varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Syrah, as well as some Mediterranean varieties such as Grenache and Monastrell, did not reach full polyphenolic ripeness due to the rains. However, we vinified them using a soft extraction, which helps the grapes produce medium-bodied, elegant wines. The short- and medium – cycle varieties such as Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc, on the other hand, have expressed great polyphenolic maturity – another high quality year – for these grapes. Overall, we will have wines with very expressive fruit, pleasant tannins and moderate alcohol levels. In general, the acidity is good, meaning great aging potential. We are happy to report that winemaker Pablo Martorell and the team are very pleased with the results of the 2021 harvest. Cheers!

Our representative red varietal is originally from the Southwest of France, in Cahors, where it was used just to adding colour to the region’s red blends. As with Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the Malbec grape is generally used for blending in other parts of the world. A hundred years ago, found its place in the world in Argentina. Nowadays, even though it is planted in more than seven countries, Argentina represents over 75% of the Malbec acres around the world. Through its success in the vineyards of Mendoza, in a few short decades Malbec has shot from relative obscurity to international fame, simultaneously bringing new-found attention and respect to Argentina as a wine-producing nation. French Malbec tends to be more meaty, rustic and tannic, while examples from Argentina seem to be uniformly rich, ripe, jammy and juicy.

On both sides of the Atlantic, Malbec wines are generally aged in Oak to enhance the wine’s structure and aging potential. Argentinian Malbec vines produce a wide range of wine styles. At lower altitudes, the variety’s skins tend to be thinner, and the fruit soft and supple ideal for rosés and mass-produced reds. On the lower slopes of the Andes Mountains, the variety develops a thicker skin and a deeper concentration of flavour. Wines from these altitudes (particularly above 3000ft/1000m) are more aromatic and have intense, vibrant colouring, and rank among the most respected of all South American wines. In the Uco Valley, it is the vivid expression of plums and berries mixed with spices and floral notes like violets.

Malbec’s most significant characteristic is the intense dark colour. Its aromas evoke cherries, violets and plums; in some cases, it is reminiscent of marmalade, depending on when the grapes were harvested. In the mouth Malbec is warm and soft, with non-aggressive tannins. When it is aged in oak, it develops a nice complexity of sweet spice and tobacco.

Fermentation Curve

Making Red Wine